Getting a Job at a Teaching Institution—and Then Succeeding: A Q&A with Experienced Teacher-Scholars

Abstract

The December 2006 APSA report, “Trends in the Political Science Profession” (Sedowski and Brintnall 2006; Brintnall 2005), noted that the number of political science jobs posted on eJobs reached an all-time high for the academic year. Thirty-six percent of those jobs were in B.A.-granting institutions, institutions most likely to include a focus on liberal arts teaching. Similarly, results from the most recently available department chairs' survey show that almost one-third of all graduates in 2002, including those in non-academic employment, obtained jobs in B.A. institutions (Lopez 2003). In response to these circumstances, the Political Science Education Section has, at recent APSA annual meetings, including 2007's meeting, sponsored a short course titled, “Getting a Job at a Teaching Institution—and Then Succeeding!” For this article we have drawn on our experiences in the short course—and in interviewing, hiring, mentoring, and evaluating colleagues at a range of liberal arts colleges—to compile a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. B.A.-granting institutions are highly diversified, as evidenced by the authors' own affiliations. Still, after much discussion, we are confident that the advice offered here is broadly applicable to colleges focusing upon the liberal arts and undergraduate education. However, applicants should always research the mission and the corresponding commitments of the institutions at which they are seeking employment.

Political Science Careers at Comprehensive Universities: Building Balanced Careers at “Greedy” Institutions

“…There has been considerable pedagogical commentary about the profession regarding political science careers at both community colleges (Brudney 2001; Brudney 2002; Douglas 2002) and liberal arts institutions (Mathews-Gardner et al 2008; Deardorff et al 2001; Hanley 2008), as well as research comparing training needs and hiring practices across different types of institutions (e.g., Rothgeb, Spadafore, and Burger 2007). In addition, Rothgeb and Burger (2009) have conducted a comparative analysis of tenure requirements at BA, MA, and Ph.D. institutions, and they conclude that tenure requirements at MA-granting institutions are comparable to BA-granting institutions in terms of teaching, but for service and research, MA-granting institutions typically fall between BA and Ph.D. programs.…”